Teacher. I am ladies man.

Maybe I was getting ahead of myself by calling my kids 'angels'...they've moved down a notch or two to the common category of 'teenage boys'... At the end of the day, no matter what country you are in, teenage boys are teenage boys.  They complain about having to do school work, they're tired, they're moody, they're hungry all the time (or complaining about being hungry), and they like to see what they can get away with.  The demotion started a couple weeks ago, when I caught five students smoking in the stairwell of my apartment.  The 'deer in the headlights' look they had on their faces when they realized they had been caught was priceless, but seriously?  That's your plan?  To sneak off and smoke in the apartment building across the street where all of your teachers live?  You were bound to be caught at some point my friends...

Speaking tests started this week.  Over the next three weeks, I will have a one-on-one conversation with every student in the school.  There are bound to be an abundance of entertaining stories that come from this.  To start off, here are a few from today...

Me: Do you prefer to travel by bus or train?
Student: I definitely prefer the train, because I have the romance there.
Me: the romance?
Student: Teacher, yes.  I am ladies man.
....clearly...

Me: If you could change something about high school in Korea, what would you change?
Student: I would cancel night self-study class.
Me:  And why would you do that?
Student:  Teacher, it is inhumane.
Me: Inhumane?  Do you understand what that means?
Student:  Yes!  It means something cruel, not kind to people
Me:  So when teachers make you study, they are being cruel to you?
Student:  duh Teacher...

In spite of my irrational belief that students should be attentive and ready to work in class...

*Looking at a table of five kids, four of them are sleeping and one is working.*

Me: (to the working kid) What happened to your friends?  It looks like they died.
Student: Oh, yes.  Teacher I can tell you.  (Pointing to first student) He's sport student, so really tired.  Too much exercise.  (Pointing to second student) He's top student and study too hard.  Too tired.  (Pointing to third student)  He have headache.  Needs to take a rest.  (Pointing to fourth student) He's....ummm...he's lazy teacher.
Me:  I'm sorry your table is so tired.  I'm happy that you are working!
Student: Of course teacher.  I am genius student!

Two weeks ago, I ran my first 10k race.  The course wound its way through the mountains, along a river and was absolutely beautiful.  However, with temperatures in the 80s and high humidity, there was a lot to be desired in terms of ideal running conditions.  The race also started at 10:15 am.  Koreans don't like to get things started too early in the morning.  In the end I was a bright red tomato, but I made it.  I even got a medal.  I mean it was a participation medal, but its a participation medal from a race in Korea.  Cool.  I might be running another 10k at the end of July, but we'll see what happens.  Sometimes running is fun, and sometimes I just want to cheer on my friends.  I'm an excellent sign maker.

Running gals from Taebaek.  Andrea on the left and Quincey on the right.

The Taebaek Crew!  Quincey, Andrea, myself and Chris.

Finishing the race...thank goodness.

The whole running crew from our group.  Jefferson, Brian, Quincey, Andrea, Matt and Chris

In other news, the sauna and I are on an indefinite break.  We had a really good relationship up until a month ago, when it decided to give me a little present called ringworm.  I know, gross.  You all should feel really special that I felt the need to share that with you.  We must be friends.

Looking ahead to June, I am doing a temple stay over the weekend of June 8th and 9th.  It will be in Odaesan National Park at Woljeongsa Temple, about 2 hours north of Taebaek.  The purpose of a temple stay is to learn about the Buddhist tradition and how it plays into Korean history.  We also get a glimpse into the daily life of the Buddhist monks who live there.  The schedule will look something like this:

First Day

2:00-3:00 Registration and Orientation

3:00-3:20 Learn Buddhist Temple Manners

3:30-5:00 Making Traditional Buddhist Pattern

5:20 Temple Dinner

6:10 Ringing the Buddhist Bell

6:20-6:50 Evening Buddhist Service

7:00-8:00 Tea and Seon Meditation

9:00 Go to bed

Second Day

3:50 Wake up and wash

4:20-5:00 Morning Buddhist Service

5:00-6:00 Walking Meditation in Fir Tree Forest

6:20 Temple Breakfast

7:00-8:30 Free time

8:30-9:00 Communal Work

9:00-10:15 Traditional Buddhist Painting on Wooden Blocks

10:20 Tidy up your room

11:15 Temple Lunch

And that's right, you read the second day wake-up call correctly - 3:50 AM!  My night-owl self is crying a little bit at the thought of that, but the rest of me is excitedly saying 'Bring it on!'

During the other weekends in June, I'm hoping to make it to the beaches on the east coast.  They're only about an hour away by bus, and I've been warned that I need to take advantage of sunny weather while I can!  Monsoon season is right around the corner...yip...eee...  

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend.  June 6th is the Memorial Day equivalent in Korea, so we don't have school on that day.  Unfortunately, June 6th falls on a Thursday, so no three day weekend for me!

Until next time, much love from me to you!